Springfield Falcons look to take command of playoff series on home ice

SPRINGFIELD - After a rousing overtime victory at Providence, the Springfield Falcons return to home ice, looking to take command of their best-of-five first round series in the American Hockey League playoffs.

Games 2 will be played Friday night at the MassMutual Center. Game 3 Saturday night also will be on Springfield ice. Game 4, if necessary, would be at Providence on Tuesday. If Game 5 is needed, it would be played May 3 at the MassMutual Center.

"In a short series like this, anything can happen, so it's always good to win that first one," said Chris MacFarland, assistant general manager of Springfield's NHL parent club, the Columbus Blue Jackets.

As the man behind the makeup of Springfield's roster, MacFarland will be following the Falcons closely during the playoffs.

The Falcons played well for most of Game 1, but in the third period, Providence came on strong and forced overtime. Only 2:21 later, the Falcons had a big 3-2 victory on a laser shot by veteran Andrew Joudrey.

"We got into some penalty trouble and they came at us in the third period, but Jouds made an outstanding play in overtime after getting the puck back on kind of a lucky bounce. But in this game, you earn your lucky bounces," said Falcons assistant coach Jared Bednar.

"Mike McKenna did a great job for us in goal. He made some stellar saves in that third period, when Providence ramped it up," Bednar said.

As the Falcons dream of Springfield's first Calder Cup since 1991, they can look to two veterans who have been there and done it.

Before coming to the Falcons in the 2011-12 season, Joudrey played with Hershey on back-to-back Calder Cup winners in 2009 and 2010.

"Winning a cup is the most rewarding thing you can do in hockey," Joudrey said. "To have that experience, you forge a bond with your teammates that will last for a lifetime. Sure, winning four series in a row is a grind, but you don't look at it that way. You just look at trying to win the next game."

Cody Bass, like Joudrey an alternate captain of the Falcons, played for the cup-winning Binghamton Senators of 2011.

"It was the best time of my life," he said. "We just made the playoffs, and then we got hot at the right time. To win the cup? It's a long process that takes a lot of work and discipline. With our hockey club now, we have to stick to our identity, manage the puck well and get the most out of our special teams."